Introduction

This chapter addresses the role of social work in child maltreatment. More precisely it addresses the role of social workers in the effective treatment of child maltreatment. After defining both child maltreatment, and social work, the first part of the chapter deals with decision-making, critical thinking and Evidence-Based Practice (EBP). Effective treatment begins with good decision-making, which is enhanced by critical thinking skills; these skills lead to, and are enhanced by, the application of Evidence-based Practice (EBP). The last part of the chapter provides a review of the empirical literature, from which evidence-based practices in the treatment of child maltreatment should be drawn.

Child Maltreatment: “Private trouble” and “public issue”.

Child maltreatment has significant and serious consequences for individuals, families, neighborhoods, and for society as a whole. It is a fundamental social work issue in at least three ways. First, it is correlated with a broad range of other social problems (e.g. poverty, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence). Second, it is a sensitive marker of the strength of the social fabric (society’s commitment to the well-being of the vulnerable). Third, it denies the worth of children, by exposing them to a host of insults and injuries (Melton & Flood, 1994). All of these are congruent with the sphere of interest of the profession of social work, concerned as it is with what C. Wright Mills termed “private troubles” and “public issues”.

Know that many personal troubles cannot be solved merely as troubles, but must be understood in terms of public issues - and in terms of the problems of history making. Know that the human meaning of public issues must be revealed by relating them to personal troubles - and to the problems of the individual life. (Mills, 1959, p 226).